CHICAGO (Aug. 27, 2022) – Chicago Fire FC (8-13-6, 30 points) fell 2-0 to second place CF Montréal (15-8-4, 49 points) on Saturday night at Soldier Field. With the result, the Fire maintain their position in the Eastern Conference, with six points separating them from a three-way tie for the seventh and final playoff spot in the East.
Despite several offensive opportunities for the Fire early in the match, the visiting side opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a driven shot from outside the 18-yard-box from midfielder Ismaël Koné off an assist from Lassi Lappalainen. Five minutes later, Montréal doubled their lead with a direct kick from forward Romell Quioto in the 24th minute.
Three minutes into first half stoppage time, Koné received his second yellow card and was ejected from the match, forcing Montréal to play the entire second half with 10 men.
Throughout the 90 minutes, Fire forward Jhon Durán helped to generate several dangerous opportunities in Chicago’s final third, including an attempt in the 64th minute when the 18-year-old striker combined with Kacper Przyblko inside the 18-yard-box, before setting himself up for a driven shot on frame. However, the attempt would be denied by Montréal goalkeeper Sebastian Breza, who stretched to make the diving save.
The Fire continued to press late into the second half, finding the back of the net in the 80th minute with a finish by Durán who converted from close range. The Colombian’s strike was subsequently ruled offside and the visiting side would come away with the 2-0 victory over the Fire.
NEXT MATCH: Chicago will embark on a two-game road stretch, playing two more games in eight days, beginning with a visit to the New England Revolution on Wednesday, Aug. 31 at Gillette Stadium. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT, the match will be televised on WGN-TV and CF97 Live, and transmitted locally in Spanish on TUDN 1200 AM.
Notes:
- Tonight’s match was the Fire’s first meeting with CF Montréal this season, with their next matchup taking place 17 days from now on Sept. 13 in Montréal.
- Fire defender Kendall Burks made his MLS debut in tonight’s match, entering in the 92nd minute.
- The highly physical match saw a total of seven yellow cards shared across both sides and one red card for Montréal.
- The Fire outshot Montréal 12-10 and logged 58% possession throughout the match
Box Score:
Chicago Fire FC 0:2 CF Montréal
Goals:
MTL - Kone (2) (Lappalainen 7) 19’
MTL - Quioto (14) 24’
Discipline:
CHI - Terán (Yellow Card) 22’
MTL - Kone (Yellow Card) 34’
MTL - Kone (Yellow Card, Ejection) 45+3’
MTL - Wanyama (Yellow Card) 45+7’
CHI - Torres (Yellow Card) 57’
MTL - Mihailović (Yellow Card) 59’
MTL - Breza (Yellow Card) 62’
Chicago Fire FC: GK Slonina, D Bornstein (Przybyłko, 61’), D Teran, D Czichos © (D Burks, 90+2’), D Sekulić, M F. Navarro, M Torres, M Mueller, M Shaqiri (Herbers, 30’), M Gutiérrez, F Durán
Subs not used: GK Richey, D Espinoza, D Reynolds II, F Bezerra, M Casas Jr., F Rodríguez
CF Montréal: GK Breza, D Miller, D Corbo, D Waterman, M Wanyama ©, M Mihailović (Choiniere, 67’), M Torres (Piette, 46’), M Lappalainen (Thorkelsson, 61’), M Johnston, M Koné, F Quioto (F Toye, 61’, Ibrahim, 72’)
Subs not used: GK Pantemis, D Brault-Guillard, M Kwizera, M Zouhir
Stats Summary: CHI / MTL
Shots: 12 / 10
Shots on Goal: 4 / 6
Saves: 4 / 4
Passing Accuracy: 82% / 74.5%
Corners: 6 / 5
Fouls: 15 / 13
Offsides: 4 / 1
Possession: 58% / 42%
Attendance: 13,907
Referee: Michael Radchuck
Assistant Referees: Adam Garner, Ian McKay
Fourth Official: Mark Allatin
VAR: Drew Fischer, Jeremy Hanson
